Vault door construction



c. u. DEATON 3,029,753

April 17, 1962 VAULT DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 31, 1957 ll Sheets-Sheet l CHARLES U. DEATON ATTORNEYS April 17, 1962 c. u. DEATON VAULT DOOR CONSTRUCTION ll Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 31, 1957 INVENTOR. CHARLES U. DEATON BY ATTORNEYS April 1962 c. u. DEATON 3,029,753

VAULT DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 51, 1957 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. IO

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INVENTOR. F|G |2 CHARLES u. DEATON ATTORNEYS c. u. DEATON 3,029,753

VAULT DOOR CONSTRUCTION 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 April 17, 1962 Filed July 31, 1957 April 17, 1962 c. u. DEATON VAULT 000R CONSTRUCTION ll Sheets-Sheet 5 Qv I A {ll/l Filed July 31, 1957 XIV INVENTOR. CHARLES U. DEATON BY ATTORNEYS April 17, 1962 c. u. DEATON VAULT DOOR CONSTRUCTION ll Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 31, 1957 FIG. 22

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INVENTOR. CHARLES U. DEATON ATTORNEYS April 1962 c. u. DEATON 3,029,753

VAULT DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 51, 1957 ll Sheets-Sheet '7 7 FIG. 23

ZNVENTOR. CHARLES U. DEATON BY 9W2 ATTORNEYS April 17, 1962 c. u. DEATON 3,02

VAULT DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 51, 1957 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 |28 46 47 A2 A J. 6 46 x I 3: I l\\\ W IO 7" J, S l0 FIG. 27 INVENTOR.

CHARLES u. DEATON ATTORNEYS April 1962 c. u. DDDD ON 3,029,753

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meg g ATTORNEYS April 17, 1962 c. u. DEATON VAULT DOOR CONSTRUCTION Filed July 31, 1957 ll Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR. CHARLES U. DEATON ATTORNEYS April 17, 1962 c. u. DEATON VAULT DOOR CONSTRUCTION 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed July 31, 1957 FIG. 39

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' INVENTOR.

' CHARLES U. DEATON ATTORNEYS IOI FIG. 42

utgitgs 7 3,029,753 VAULT DOOR CONSTRUCTION Charles U. Deaton, Denver, Colo., assignortosDiebold,

'i'lucorporated, Canton, Ohio, a corporation'ot Ohio 7 Filed July 31, 1957, Ser. No. 675,298

r '6 Claims. (Cl. 109-59) The invention relates to vault door construction for vaultstructures used by banks, by government or business oflices, or at residences for storing or guarding valuables, such as money, documents, or other articles; and more particularly, the-invention relates to a new vault door construction which eliminates usual bolt work,

thereby achieving a pleasing appearance when open or closed, and asimplified structure from the standpoint of case of manufacture, weight, and cost, whileproviding maximum security. 7 r

A vault structure normally includes a vestibule extending through one vault wall and the outer end of the vestibule is normally closed by a hinged vault door.

Authorized access to the interior of the vault is gained through the vestibule by unlocking the doorand swinging it open on its hinges. Typical vault doors'may be either" 1' circular or rectangular in shape seated in a similarlyshaped door frame when the door is closed. A rectangular vault door and frame have an advantage in providing minimum obstruction to a substantially level walk through in gaining access to the interior of a vault and in'providing floor levels inside and outside of the vault with a minimum difference of elevation.

Security for the contents of a vault when closed requires the vault door when seated and locked in the vestibule door frame opening to be resistant to mechanical cutting tools, to the intense heat of high-temperature torches and'to explosives which are the threeattack implements most frequently used in burglary attemptsa In addition, vault structures, including the doors therefor, must be resistant to fire and earthquake hazards.

In order to satisfy these requirements, and to achieve the degree of security necessary for any particular installation, the vault structure andvault door are const'ructed of materials resistant to the three burglary attack implements and to fireand other hazards. In consequence a vault door is massive in size and weight. At the same time it must be possible forauthorized persons to move such a massive vault door easily between open and closed positions.

Many-kinds of hinged mountings have been-used to enable movement of vault doors between open and closed positions. ,However, the mass or weight of the door, its

ranged to be moved to anengaged or disengaged posi-' tion for locking or unlocking the door in closed position.

The bolt means in prior vault door structures are likewise massive. tofprovide' the necessary direct strength to resistunauthorized opening by any implement of at- .Patent'ed'A r. 17, .1962

edges of the door and usually the topedge where such edges seat in the door'j'amb are normally provided with tapered and steppedinterfitting surfaces to enable proper seating of the door when closed, to provide the necessary clearance for opening a 'door of massive thickness on its 1 hinge mounting, and to preventthe insertion of Wedges or other implements of attack at the interfaces between the door edges and jambsurfaces.

Finally, a vault door may be provided with usual'combination and time locking means to prevent operation of the bolt means and opening of the door except by authorized persons at authorized times.

These manifold and interrelated requirements which must be satisfied in the design and construction of a vault door heretofore have resulted in complicated and costly manufacturing and assembly operations and procedures; lvlany parts, including relatively massive bolt work parts, have had to be machined and finished to precisionwith complicated machining operations. V r 1 Furthermore, the assembly and mounting of the many movable parts of-the bolt work and operating mechanisms therefor have likewise been costly in order that in the final assembly all of the movable parts of the vault door, hinge mechanism, bolt work, etc. are located and fitted with precision to provide maximum security along with ease of opening or closing the door by authorized personnel.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to substantially simplify the design and construction of vault doors while retaining maximum security against unauthorized'opening.

Likewise, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new vault door construction including a plain hinged door and improved means without any bolt work on the door or door frame for holding the door in closed position.

Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new rectangular vault door construction including block means which is moved into and out of blocking position between the edge of the door and the door frame'to prevent movement of the door when theblock is in blocking position.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new vault door construction in which all moving parts-excepting a simple combination lock where desired to be located on the door-are removed from the door, so that the door itself is the only moving part mounted and moving on the 'door hinge mechanism.

Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a :new'vault door construction including a vault door having plain surfaces and square corners between inner of up to, say, 42 in thickness depending. upon the degree 'of security-desired.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new vault door construction having decreased weight relative to prior doors achieving the same degree 'tain the door in locked position once locked, thereby effectively closing the vault dooropening even though the hinge mechanism accessible at the exterior of the door is blown off by an unauthorized person.

. Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new vault door construction including movable door blocking means in which the door itself, due to its mass and thickness, cooperates with the blockingmeans and door frame to prevent any movement of the door when blocked in closed position.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new simplified vault door structure in which the combination lock for controlling the doorlocking mechanism may be selectively locatedand-mountedeither on the door or the door frame or the door locking mechanism. I

Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new vault door construction having a door handle which may be grasped and held throughout the door opening or closing operations so that it is unnecessary for the operator to shift his hold on the door during movement ofthe door from closed to fully open position, or vice versa.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new vault door construction eliminating the difficulties heretofore encountered in the art, satisfying the manifold requirements for achieving security in the construction and operation of a vault door, eliminating the costly manufacture and assembly of a multitude of parts heretofore required, and achieving the stated objects in a simplified and inexpensive manner.

These and other objects and advantages, apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description and claims, may be obtained, the stated results achieved, and the described difficulties overcome by the apparatus, combinations, parts, elements, subcombinations, arrangements and constructions which comprise the present invention, the nature of which is set forth in the following general statement, preferred embodiments of whichillustrative of the best modes in which application has contemplated applying the principles-are set forth in the following description and shown in the drawings, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

The nature of they improved vault door construction of the present invention may be stated in general terms as including a rectangular door frame, a door having -a FIGURES 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic sectional views illustrating successive steps carried out in unlocking and opening the improved vault door construction;

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic sectional views illustrating successive steps carried out in closing and locking the improved vault door construction;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the improved vault door construction showing the vault door closed and the blocking means locked in blocking position as shown in FIGS. land 9;

FIG. '11 is a' fragmentary elevation looking in the direction of the arrows 11-11, FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the Inc 1212, FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 13- -13, FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the door open to permit authorized access to a vault through the vault door vestibule as also shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 15-.15, FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view similar to a portion of FIG. 10 but showing the combination lock unlocked and the blocking means moved to open position as also shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 17 is a view similarto FIGS. 16and 4 showing the door open and the blocking means located in open position;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of the door and door frame with the door open, looking in the direction of the arrows 18- 18, FIG. 14;

into and out of position within the door frame for closing or opening the door, blocking means located within the door frame and movable with respect to the door and door frame to a blocking position between the swinging 'side edge of the door and the door frame generally FIG. 19 is a fragmentary top elevation looking in the direction of the arrows 1919, FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 2tl-20, FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper hinge means taken on the line 21-2l, FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 21 illustrating the lower hinge means taken on the line 22-22, FIG. 18;

FIG. 23 is a vertical sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 23-23, FIG. 17; 7

FIG. 24 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the position of certain parts with the door closed and the blocking means in open position, looking in the direction of the arrows 2424, FIG. 26;

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 24 but showing the blocking means located in blocking position;

FIG. 26 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 11 with ,parts broken awayand in section and in the position illustrated in FIG. 24 looking in the direction of the arrows 2626, FIG. 24;

FIG. 27 is a view similar to FIG. 23 but illustrating the blocking means in blocking position and the footbridge lowered;

FIG.128 is a fragmentary sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 2828, FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is another fragmentarysectional view taken on the line 29-49, FIG. 27; 1

FIGSQ30, 31, 32.a1 1d 33 are fragmentary sectional views similar, to a portion of FIG. '10 illustrating modified forms of blocking means;

' FIGS. 34, 35 and 36 are views similar to FIGS. 30 to 33 illustrating modified forms of door construction at the hinge side of the door;

FIG. 37 is a view similar to a portion of FIG. 10 showing a modified form of lock construction;

FIG. 38 is a view similar to FIG. 37 showing another modified form of lock construction with the combination lock mounted on the door;

FIG. 39 is a view similar to FIG. 10 illustrating power means for moving the blocking means;

I FIG. 40 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view showing a modified means of mounting the blocking means with the blocking'means in blocking position;

ns-area FIG. 41 is a Viewsimilar 'to'FIGJ' iO but showing the blocking means in'open position; and

FIG. 42 is a fragmentary view looking in the direction 'of the arrows 42-42, FIG. 40.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the various figures of the drawings.

The improved vault door construction is indicated generally at 1. It may be installed in the vault wall 2 to close a vestibule opening generally indicated at 3 in the vault "wall 2 extending from the interior to the exterior of the vault.- The vestibule opening 3 maybe formed by side frame members 4 and 5, a top frame member 6 "and a bottom frame member 7.

A rectangular door frame is mounted at the outer end of the vestibule openingS and includes a hinge side jamb necessary material or materials required to resist the various attack elements which might be used to gain unauthorized access'to the vault.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 10 and 14, as shown, the.

hinge side edge 14. of the door 13 is preferably formed with a series of vertically extending alternateribs 15 and grooves 16 which mate and interlock with a similar series of grooves 17 and ribs 18 formed on the vestibule face of the hinge side jamb member 8. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 10 and 14, the outer faces of the ribs 18, which form the outer vestibule face of hinge side jamb member 8, are

surfaces of the door ribs 15 and 19, the hinge pin axis '32 is located a minimum distance from the center of gravity of the door represented diagrammatically by the point 33 in FIGS. 10 and 14.

The distance from hinge pin axis 32 to center of gravity 33 can be termed a cantilever length indicated at CL in FIG. 10, which, taken with the weight of the'door, determines the size of the hinge pins and their bearings.

. In contrast, prior crane hinge vault door mountings have parallel to the vestibule face edge of blocking bar 44 when p vestibule opening 3.

The door 13 has a somewhat enlarged semicircular rib 19'extending vertically at the corner between the outer surface 2b of the door and the hinge side edge 14 of the door which is formed with the ribs and grooves 15 and 16. Top hinge pin means 21is mounted at the upper end of rib 19 (FIGS. 18, 21) and bottom hinge pin means 22 is mounted at the lower end of rib 19 (FIGS. 18, 22). The top hinge pin means 21 (FIG. 21) may comprise a threaded bolt carrying a bearing member 23 at its upper end. The bearing member 23 may be adjustably mounted between adjustable bearing pads 24, carried by hinge plate 25, mounted at 26 on the top door jamb reinforcing member 12. Adjustment of the bearing pads 24 is effected by set screws 27 for aligning and balancing the hinge mounting of the door 13.

The lower hinge pin means 22 (FIG-22) preferably includes a hinge pin having a reduced lower pintle 28 carried by a thrust roller bearing 29 mounted in an adjustable bearing housing 30 threaded into stationary bearing block 31 mounted on the bottom jamb reinforcing member 12 (FIGS. 18 and 22). Thus, bearing 29 carries the load of the door and its location vertically may be adjusted by threadably rotating bearing housing 30 in bearing block 31.

Referring to FIGS. l0, 14, 21, and 22, the location of the vertical axis of the hinge pin means 21 and 22, indicated by the point anddot-dash line 32, generally at the corner of the door 13 between its outer face 20 and its hinge side edge 14 is of importance. Since the hinge pin axis 32 is spaced inwardly of the other surface 20 of the door '13 and is also located inwardlyfrom extreme'outer required the hinge pin axis to be located some distance to the right of the hinge side edge of the door (viewing FIG. 10) and some distance outwardly of the outer surface of the door in order to provide the necessary clearances for opening and closing the door. The increased cantilever length in prior doors has required substantially larger or more massive hinge pin means and much larger hearings in order to properly support and hinge the door for free movement.

Thus, in the improved door construction of the present invention, the hinge pin axis in being'located snugly adjacent the vault wall just in front of the plane of the outer surface of the vault wall 2 and just in front of the plane of the front ends of the door frame jambmembers (FIGS. 10 and 14), and inward from the outer surfaceof the door reduces the hinge pin and binge pin bearing sizes.

Referring to FIGS. l0, 14, 16, 17, 23 and 27,'the vestibule frame side member. 5 is spaced from a cooperating vestibule side member 34, and the member'fi l' extends rearwardly from the side jamb member 9. A. compartment 35 is thus formed between vestibule side members 5 and 34 extending (FIGS. 23 and 27) from the bottom to the top at thelefbhand side of the vestibule opening 3 viewing FIG. 10. A bearing support member 3'6 is mounted by box walls 37 and members 5 and 34 at the rear of compartment 35, substantially halfway between the bottom and top of the vestibule. A bracket '38 is mounted at the lower end of support member 36 projecting forwardly in compartment 35 carrying .a journal block 39 at its-front end. Two rollers 40 are mounted in angular relation with each other on the journal block 39. Similar rollers 40a are mounted on a plate 38a (FIGS. 14 and 17) which is mounted on the vault wall 2 at the front end of jamb vault wall 2, as indicated by the arrows 42 in FIGS. 23 I member 9. v

A locking or carrier bar 41 is slidably journalled through support member 36 and is supported on rollers 461 and 49a for movement inward and outward relative to the and 27, and outward movement of the locking bar 41 is limited by engagement of the enlarged head 43 at the 1 rear end of the bar (FIGS. 10 and 27) with the rear face of bearing support member 36.

A vertically extending blocking bar 44, rectangular in cross-section with fiat vertically extending surfaces as shown in FIGS. 10 and 14, is mounted on the locking bar 41 intermediate the ends of bar 41 and rollers 40 and 46a, and the blocking bar 44 extends from the bottom to the top of the vestibule opening 3. Thus, the carrier bar 41 and blocking bar 44 are fixed to one another to move together, and the carrier bar 41 extends in a direction from front to rear of the vestibule opening perpendioular to the plane of the front ends of the door frame jamb members, .as shown in FIGS. 10 and 14. Movement of the blocking bar 44 from the blocking position shown in FIGS. 10 and 27 to the open position shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 23 is eifected by pushing the locking bar 41 in the direction of the arrow 42 (FIG. 27) from the outward position shown in FIGS. 10 and 27 to the inward position shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 23. As the blocking bar 44 is moved between blocking and open positions, the weight or load thereof is carried through the movable carrier bar 41 to the rollers 4i? and 40a mounted on the support members 36 and 33a which are located along the length of the carrier bar 41 adjacent the vestibule opening, as shown in FIGS. 10 and'l4.

A bracket 45 is mounted on the inside face of block- Referring to FIG. 10,. when the blocking bar 44 is in.

outward or blocking position, its flat parallel side surfaces 48 and 49 respectively engage the fiat swinging side edge 50 of the vault door 13 and the fiat inner surface of the jamb member 9 which are parallel when the door 13 is in closed position. v e a The blocking bar 44 in blocking position (FIG. 10) thus effectively blocks any swinging movement of the door on its hinge mounting by being located between the swinging side edge of the door and the adjacent jamb member. In this position, the blocking bar 44 is aligned with the swinging side edge of the door. When the blocking bar 44 is moved to the position shown in FIGS. 16, 17 and 23, the door 13 is free to swing on its hinge from closed to open position or vice versa.

The door 13 is formed with a vertically extending preferably rectangular flange 51 projecting in continuation of .Thehrst purpose served. by the handle-locking-barinterlock is to insure that the door'13 is in proper position the outer surface 20 of the door beyond and to the left 3 of the swinging side edge 59 of the door (FIG. 10); and

the flange-51 partially overlaps the blocking bar 44. A

.notch 52 (FIG. 11) is formed in the flange 51 through to the left viewing FIGS. 10 and 11, with the handle SpOOl. I

54 at the extreme outer end of the handle bracket 53. A generally rectangular opening 56 is thus formed between the legs of the U-shaped bracket 53, the handle spool 54 and the door flange 51 into which the plate 38a extends (FIGS. 11 and 12) when the door 13 is in closed posi-' tion.

The locking bard-1 is provided with an operating handle 57 projecting laterally to the left of the outer end of the locking bar 41. When the locking bar 41 is in inward position (FIGS. 16, 17, 23 and 24), the locking bar handle 57 and outer end of locking bar 41 pass through the door handle rectangular opening 56 when the handle is moved to swing the door from the closed position of FIG. 10 to the open position of FIG. 14.

The locking bar 41 and door 13 are provided with an interlock which serves two purposes. The interlock includes a pivoted latch member 58 mounted within a recess 59 formed in the rearof plate 38a (FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 26). The latch member 58 has 'a latch tongue 60 engageable in a latch recess 61 formed in the upper leg of the U-shaped handle bracket 53 (FIGS. 13 and 26) and a cam roller 62 engageable with the locking bar 41 and a notch 63 (FIG. 24) formed near the outer end'of the locking bar 4ft.

When the locking bar 41 is in outward position and the blocking bar 44 in blocking position (FIGS. 10, 11 and 12) roller 62 riding on the surface of locking bar 41 (FIG. 11) moves latch member 58 to the position shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 with the latch tongue 60 engaged with latch recess 61 on door handle 53 holding the door handle and door from movement.

When the locking bar 41 is in inward position with the blocking bar 44 in open position (FIGS. l6, 17, 23, 24 and 26), roller 62 is located in locking bar notch 63 permitting the latch member 58 to drop to the position shown in FIG. 26 wherein engagement of latch tongue 60 with handle latch recess 61 is released permitting movement of handle 53 and door 13.

with its swinging side edge in parallelism with the jamb member 9 to receive the blocking bar 44 when the blocking bar is moved from the position shown in FIG. 16 to that shown in FIG. 19. It is essential that this parallelism between door edge surface 5% and jamb member 9 be maintained in order to permit the blocking bar 44 to be moved to blocking position without binding.

The other functionof the interlock is to prevent opening of door 13 until locking bar 4-1 is pushed completely to inward position with blocking bar 44 in open position (FIGS. 16 and 24)'.- Without such an interlock, and with the locking bar'pushed partially but not completely inward, interference between door handle 54 and locking bar handle 57 on opening door 13 could occur.

The improved door construction of the-present invention may be provided with'anydesired combination and time lock means. As shown in FIGS. 1 through 29, a typical combination lock =64 may be mounted in a housing 65 formed in the vault wall2 outside of the jamb memher 9 protected by a desired thickness of plate 66 resistant to the normal implements of unauthorized attack. The lock 64 may be actuated by a-usual combination lock dial 67 connected by a spindle 68 with the lock 64. The bolt actuated by the combination lock 64 may extend through an opening 69 through jamb member 9 and when combination lock 64 is locked, bolt member 74 projects behind the rear face of blocking bar 44 when in blocking position and engages the blocking bar 44 at a location at least at the rear of the plane of the rear face of the door 13, as shown in'FIG. 10. When the combination lock is unlocked, and the bolt 70 retracted as shown in FIG. 16, blocking bar 44is free to be moved between open and blocking positions by movement of locking bar 41.

Although only one combination lock is illustrated in the drawing, any desired number of combination locks may be provided, such as two or three, which may be located at intervals along the length of the blocking bar 44; and the combination lock or looks may be equipped with time lock mechanism, if desired.

The improved vault'door construction may beprovided with a footbridge actuated by opening and closing the door for spanning the threshold when the door is open and providing a smooth, gradual bridging surface between the vault floor line VF and the floor line exterior of the vault EF as shown in FIG. 27. The footbridge may comprise a slightly angular plate member 71 pivotally mounted at 72 behind the bottom jamb member 11. A linkage system may be connected to the rear end of footbridge 71 by arm 73 pivotally connected to a link 74, which, in turn, is pivotally connected to link '75 pivoted on a fixed pivot 76 and having a roller 77 mounted at its upper end. A stop member 78 projects forwardly from the upper end of pivoted link 75.

Whenthe door 13 is open and the blocking member 44 locked in blocking position, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 27, the footbridge 71 is in bridging position. As the blocking member 44 is moved to open position (FIG. 23) in order to permit closing of the door, the lower end of the blocking member 44 engages roller 77 (FIG. 23) and through the linkage 75, 74 and 73 the footbridge is moved to raised position shown in FIG. 23 where it is held so long as the locking member 44 remains in open position.

After the door has been closed, the forward end 79 of stop member 78 engages the rear surface of the door (FIGS. 10 and 16) to prevent the footbridge from falling forward against the back of the door as the blocking member is moved to blocking position which would otherwise permit the roller 77 previously engaged by the blocking member (FIG. 23) to move the left.

The steps carried out in unlocking and opening the improved vault door construction are illustrated in FIGS. lthrough 5. The normal blocked and locked position latched.

position (FIGQ23).

' hinges (FlGj position, and the bolt 7t? of the combination lock extended behind blocking bar id. This is also illustrated in FIG. 10.

The first step is to dial the combination on the combination lock dial 67, as illustrated by the hand in FIG. 2. Dialing of the combination and operation of the combination lock retracts the bolt 70 so that the blocking bar 44 is now, free to be moved to open position.

position or" the parts The next step is illustrated in FIG. 3 wherein the locking bar 41 is pushed inward as indicated by the arrow, by grasping the locking bar handle 57 andpushing, thereby moving the blocking bar 44 to open position. The position of the parts atthis stage is also shown in FIGS.

16 and 24. The blocking bar 44- is now in a position to permit the door 13 to be swung on. its hinges, and the locking bar handle 57 is in position to permit the door handle to pass over the lockingbar handle 57. lnthis position of the parts, the interlock (FIG. 26) is un- The door handle spool54 maythen be grasped and the :door swung to open position as shown in FIG. 4. Meanwhile, the footbridge 71 is held in raised position by engagement of roller 77' with the blocking bar in open The final step'is then performed of pulling the locking bar 41 out, as illustrated in FIG. 5, byfgrasping the looking bar handle 57 and pulling outward, thus moving the blocking bar. 44' to blocking position and providing a framed opening for the vestibule. This movement of the blocking bar permits the footbridge 71 to drop to a lowcred position (FIG. 27) bridging the threshold of the door jambs and forming a smooth surface on which authorized'personnel may walk into the vault through the vestibule 3.

The steps carried out in closing and locking the door are illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9. Assuming the door to be opened and the footbridge lowered, as shown in FIG. 5, the first step is to 'push the locking bar 41 inward as shown by the arrow in FIG. 6, by grasping the locking bar handle SIand pushing until the blocking bar 44 reaches open of the footbridge 71.

The door 13 now may be swung to closed position as illustrated in FIG. 7. Next, the locking bar 41 is pulled outward to move the blocking bar 44 to' blocking position, as illustrated in FIG. .8, the footbridge 71 being retained in raised position by engagement of stop member 78 with the rear of the door (FIG. 10). The combination lock is then actuated, as shown in FIG. 9, to proposition, accompanied by raising ject the bolt 78 behind theblocking bar 44, thus locking the door. 7

One of the fundamental features of the improved vault "door construction is the moving of the blocking member 44 to a position betweenthe swinging side edge of the door and the adjacent door jainb so that it blocks any movementrof the door on its hinges. Such movement is resisted by the mass. and the shape of the door itself, which cooperates in blocking such movement on the door destroy the hinge means in an attempt to secure rectilinear movement of the door 13 out of the door frame,

such movement is prevented by the interlocking formations at the-hinge side edgeof the door. Thus, the restraint on removal or" the door is not dependent on the hinge mechanism which is accessible at the outside, but is independent thereof.

, the door.

i the blocking bar 44 out of the door frame may bev rehinge pins and bearings.

strained in various manners as illustrated in FIGS. through 33 wherein the blocking bar 44a (FIG. 30) may have a cross-sectional shape formed with a tapered surface 80 which engages a tapered surface 81 formed on one of the door side jambs. Alternately, as shown in FIG. 31, the blocking bar 44b may be formed with an angular shoulder 82 engageable with a flange 83 formed on one of the door jamb members.

As a further alternate, the blocking bar 440 may have a different shoulder formation 84 (FIG. 32) engageable with a heavier door jamb flange 85.

As a further alternative (FIG. 33), the blocking bar 7 44d may be provided with a slot 86 which engages a pin 87 projecting from the door jamb to restrain the blocking bar from moving out of the door frame.

Similarly, the interlock between the hinge side edge of the door and the door frame may be provided by simple formations ditferent from the ridge and groove formations 15, 16, 17 and 18, while still retaining a close coupled hinge arrangement requiring a minimum size of Thus, as shown in FiG. 34,

' the hinge side edge of the door 13 may be providedwith a flange 88 forming a shoulder engaging a flange 89 formed on the door frame. Alternately, a seriesof pins 95) may project from the hinge side edge of the door 13 received in a groove 91 formed in the door frame, as shown in FIG. 35.

The pins 90 may be replaced by a continuous rib'9 2 received in a similar door frame groove 91, as shown in FIG. 36.

One of the fundamental features of the present invention is the simple shape of the'door frame anddoor members from the standpoint of manufacture; The door is a generally rectangular block with substantially square corwell as the blocking member and locking bar,.m'ay be manufactured by the simplest of machining operations.

A rectangular door with square corners in asubstantially square opening cannot move when the blocking member 44is in blocking position, and in accordance with the invention, the blocking member 44 is of sufficient size so that when removed from blocking position it provides the necessary clearance for opening the door on a simple close-coupled hinge mechanism.

The blocking member, being a simple rectangular bar which may be readily machinedin contrast with complicated bolt work heretofore used in vault door constructions-has the advantage that it may be readily engaged by the bolt of a combination lock and thereby locked in a I blocking position. i

One form of combination lock arrangement is shown in FTGS. 1 through 29. Alternately, as shown in FIG. 37,

the combination lock 64a may actuate a movable wedge link member SE to a position wedged behind a pad 94 formed on the rear surface of the blocking member 44, to thereby hold the blocking. member 44 in blocking position when the combination lock 64a is locked.

Alternately, if it is desired to mount the combination lock 64b on the door, as shown in FIG. 38, the lock bott 95 may actuate a bolt member 96 to project the latter behind the blocking bar 44 when in blocking position.

The movable lock means members 93 (FIG. 37) or 96 (FIG. 38) as well'as the bolt member '70 (FIG. 10) when projected to locking positions from their locks 64a, 64b or 64, respectively, which locks are mounted on either the door frame (FIGS. 10 and 37) or the door (FIG. 38), engage the blocking bar 44 at a location at is. 7 least at the rear of the plane of the rear face of the door, as shown in F168. 10, 37 and 38.

In actuating the blocking mechanism in accordance with the present invention, it is necessary to move the blocking bar 44 from the outside of the vault. In FIGS. 1 through 38, this movement is accomplished manually by pushing or pulling on the locking bar 41. Alternately, movement of the blocking bar may be accomplished by a mechanical drive, as illustrated in FIGS. 39 through 42.

. Thus, a mechanical advantage device 97 may be connected with the blocking bar 444 and actuated through a chain drive 98 and spindle 99 by a hand Wheel me on the outer wall of the vault. Parallel movement linkage may be connected with the blocking bar 44-1, as shown in FIGS. 40, 41 and 42, to insure proper movement of the blockto a slide 103 moving in a vertical channel 104. A secondary link 105 may be pivotally connected at 106 intermediate the ends of link 101 andto a fixed pivot 167. Referring to FIG. 39, the hand wheel drive 100 for moving the blocking bar 44-1 may be motorized if desired. In view of the simplicity in the form of the door and blocking bar constructed in accordance with the present invention, no problems whatsoever are involved in manu facturing the door with any thickness that is desired for obtaining the desired degree of security.

As illustrated, a footbridge where desired may be ccoperatively actuated by the door and blocking bar to raise and lower the footbridge in carrying out the steps necessary to accomplish closing or opening of the door.

The particular arrangement of the door handle 54 in projecting outwardly beyond the swinging edge of the door is of advantage in that the handle may be grasped and held throughout the opening or closing operations as the door is being opened or closed. Heretofore, where door handles have been arranged on the outer face of a vault door, it has been necessary onopening the door, topull the door partway open with the handle, and then to move to the back of the door and push the back of the door to move the door to fully opened position.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a new vault door construction which includes explain and simple rectangular door per se free of moving parts having a pleasing appearance and generally square corners free of tapered and stepped surfaces and having front and rear faces which may be provided with any desired decorative arrangement; which may be easily manufactured with the simplest of machining operations; which includes a door having decreased weight compared with prior doors for any particular degree of security desired; which eliminates bolt work; which does not depend upon its hinge mechanism for holding the door in locked position when blocked and locked in such position; which may utilize any simple form of combination or time lock located at any desired location either on the door or on the door frame; which may be provided with any desired door thickness to achieve the desired degree of security; which may be provided with minimum sized hinges and binge bearings; which has a simplified design and construction while retaining maximum security against unauthorized opening; which utilizes the mass and shape of the door itself cooperatively with blocking means interposed between the door and door frame to prevent movement of the door when blocked in closed position; which has an improved door operating handle that may be held throughout the door opening and closing movement; which eliminates difficulties heretofore encountered in the art and satisfies the manifold requirements for achieving security in the construction and operation of a vault door; and which accomplishes the many new functions hereinabove described and solves longstanding problemsin the art."

. broadly construed.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such terms are utilized for descriptive purposes herein and not for the purpose of limitation, and are intended to be Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are by way of example and the'invention is not limited to the exact structure shown hereinjbecause the sizes and shapes of various parts maybe varied to provide other structural embodiments without departing from the fundamental principles of the invention.

Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the operation and use of preferred forms thereof, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful apparatus, combinations, parts, elements, subcombinations, arrangements and constructions, and mechanical equivalents obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

fining a vestibule opening and having a swinging side jamb member at one side of said opening, a door, hinge means mounting the door on the door frame for swinging move ment between open and closed positions into and out of said vestibule opening, the door having a swinging side edge, the door when in closed position in the vestibule opening being laterally aligned with the jamb member with the swinging side edge spaced from said jamb member defining a clearance space between said jamb member and said swinging side edge, the door swinging side edge moving into and through at least a portion of said clearance space when the door swingingly moves on said hinge means from closed to open positions, blocking means movable when the door is in closed position into a blocking position within said clearance space extending substantially the total lateral distance between said jamb member and swinging side edge and thereby occupying that portion of said clearance space through which the door swinging side edge must move when swingingly moving on said hinge means from closed to open positions, lock means for locking the blocking means in blocking position, operating means projecting forwardly of the door when the door is in closed position for moving the blocking means between said blocking position and a non-blocking position out of said clearance space peri has moved the blocking means to non-blocking position,

thereby preventing any swinging movement of the door from closed position until the blocking means is in nonblocking position and preventing any interference between the operating meansand door handle during swinging movement of the door from closed to open position.

2. Vault door construction including a door frame defining a vestibule opening and having a swinging side 'iamb member at one side of said opening, a door, hinge means mounting the door on the door frame for swinging movement between open and closed positions into and out of said vestibule opening, the door having a swinging side edge, the door when in closed position in the vestibule opening being laterally aligned with the jamb member with the swinging side edge spacedfrom said jamb member defining .a clearance space between said jamb member and .saidswinging side edge, the door swinging '13 side edgemoving intoand throu'gh at least a'portion of said clearance space when the door swingingly moves, on said hinge means from closed to open positions, blocking means movable when the dooris in closed position into a blocking positionwithin said-clearance space extending substantially the total-lateral distance between said jamb member and swinging side edge and thereby occupying that portion of said clearance space through which the door swinging side edge must move when swingingly moving on'said-hinge means from closed to open positions, lock means for locking the blocking means in blocking position, operating means projecting forwardly of the door laterally between the door swinging side edge and said jamb member when the door is in closed position'for moving the blocking means between said blocking position and a non-blocking position out of said clearance space permitting said swinging movement of the door, a handle on the door projecting laterally beyond the door swinging side edge and telescoping over said operating means when the door is in closed position, said operating means being in interference with the path of travel along which the door handle moves upon movement of the door from closed toward open position when said operating means is out of said non-blocking position, and latch interlock means operably engaged between the door handle and said operating means holding the door latched against movement from closed position until said operating means has moved the blocking means to non-blocking position, thereby preventing any swinging movement of the door from closed position until the blocking means isin non- H blocking position and preventing any interference between the operating means and door handle during swinging,

movement of the door from closed to open position.

3. Vault door construction including a door frame defining a vestibule opening and having a swinging side jamb member at one side of said opening, a door, hinge means mounting the door on the door frame for swinging movement between open and closed positions into and out of said vestibule opening, the door having a swinging side edge, the door when in closed position in the vestibule opening being laterally aligned with the jamb member with the swinging side edge spaced .from said jamb member defining a clearance space between said jamb memher and said swinging side edge, the door swinging side edge moving into and through at least a portion of said clearance space when the door swingingly moves on said hinge means from closed to open positions, blocking means movable when the door is in closedv position into a blocking position within said clearance space extending substantially the total lateral distance between said jamb member and swinging side edge and thereby occupying that portion of said clearance space through which the door swinging side edge must move when swingingly moving on said hinge means from closed to open positions,

' lock means for locking the blocking means in blocking position, means for moving the blocking means into said 1 blocking position and to a non-blocking position out of said clearance space to permit said'blocking when the door is in closed position and to permit swinging movement of the door, the door frame having a lower threshold, the means for moving the blocking means also selectively moving the blocking means'between non-blocking and blocking positions when the door is in open position, footbridge means pivotally mounted on the door frame movable between a position bridging the threshold of the door frame when the door is in open position and a raised position substantially free of the door closed position, means interconnected and operable between the footbridge means and blocking means for moving the footbridge means fromibridging position to raised position when the door is in open position and theblocking means is moved from blocking position to non-blocking position preparatory to moving the door to closed position and for moving the footbridge means from raised position to bridging position when the door is in open position and the blocking means is moved fromfnon' blockin'g position -to 'blockingp'osition; whereby when the blocking means is moved to non-blocking position and thedoor is swingingly moved to open position, the blocking means may i then be'moved to blocking position moving the footbridge means from raised to bridging position, and prior to 7 moving the door from open to closed position, the blockforming a rectangular vestibule opening having'a vertical swinging side jamb member at one side of said opening,

the jamb member having a vestibule faceand a front end,

a rectangular solid slab door having flat front and rear faces and a vertical swinging side edge with a squarejcorner between the rear face and'swinging side edge, hinge means on. the door and door frame having a vertical hinge 'axis located in front of the plane of the-front end of the jamb member, said hinge 'means mounting the door on the door frame for swinging movement between open and closed positions into and out of said vestibule "opening, the vertical swinging side door edge extending perpendicularly of the rear door face from the square corner forwardly to the plane of the front end of the swinging side door frame jamb member when the door is in closed position within the vestibule opening, the door when in closed position in the vestibule opening being laterally aligned with the jamb member withtheverx tical swinging side door edge spaced throughout its extent from the vertical jamb member defining a vertically and laterally extending clearance space between the vertical jamb member and swinging side door edge, said,

clearance space also extending from the square corner to the plane of the front end of the jamb member, the swinging side door edge and square corner moving into and through the clearance space when the door swingingly moves on said hinge means between open and closed positions, movable vertically extending blocking bar means having upper and lower ends, carrierbar means movable with and fiXedto the blocking bar means intermediate the ends of the blocking bar means and extending in a direction from front to rear of the vestibule opening perpendicular to the plane of the front end of the jamb member, bearing support means for the carrier bar means =fixed to the door frame swinging side jamb member and located along the length of the carrier bar means adjacent the vestibule opening, the blocking bar means being movable when the door is in closed position into a blocking position entirely occupying the clearance space between the vertical door edge and jamb member and extending from said square corner to the plane of the front end of the jamb member, lock means having a .movable member engageable with the blocking bar means at a location at least at the rear of the plane of the rear means for moving the blocking bar means rearwardly out of blocking position in said clearance space to permit said swinging movement of the door.

5. The construction defined in claim 4 in which the vertical swinging side jamb member has a fiat jamb surface, in which the vertical swinging side door edge has a fiat surface parallelwith the flat jamb surface when the door is in closed position, and in which the blocking bar means has laterally spaced parallel flat vertical surfaces engaged with the flat vertical jamb surface and the flat vertical swinging side door edge between the square corner and the plane of the front end of the jamb member when the blocking bar'means is in blocking position.

6. The construction defined in claim 5 inwhich guide means is provided on and engageable between the blocking bar means and door frame separate from said bearing support means'for imparting movement of the spaced parallel fiat vertical surfaces of the blocking bar means 'parallelwith the parallel fiat jamb and doof edge sur- 851,744 'faces as the bloekingbar means moves on the bearing 1,284,514- support means. 1,3 69,960 v 1,463,182 References Cited in the file of this patent 5 I 1,

' 1,723, UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 732 229,905 Mosler July 13, 1880 258,577 Gross May 30, 188

Z 479,592 Goldschmid July 26, 1892 10 650,557

16 Gustafson Apr. 30, 1907 Whallon Nov. 12, 1918 Brintnall Mar. 1, 1921 Voss July 31, 1923 Brintnall July 28, 1925 Sipe Aug. 6, 1929 Paca. Jan. 31, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS France Jan. 10, 1929 

